Customer Reviews

Julie Ruin [Vinyl]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A long time fan of Bikini Kill, I knew I had to buy this CD when I heard Kathleen was taking her feminist punk genius solo.

If only this could be played on the airwaves instead of the sickening stream of Brittney, Jennifer and Christina, the world would be a much better place. Imagine a CD where urban women take on the world without shame.

First off, in addition to the usual concern about women's issues, eating disorders and stuff, there is a healthy criticism of police brutality against people because of their skin color. Because progressive political music should (like the non-music actions) be able to make connections between different kinds of oppressions, I was really impressed by the additional themes.

Secondly, being no big fan of hip-hop I was not sure what to judge the album by when advance reviews mentioned electronics influence, but I completely discarded my stereotypes and fell in love with the album's unmistakably original sound and concept. This is a new sound for Hanna, and I really think it continues her reputation as a true (as opposed to studio groomed) reccording artist.

I know my only regret at this point is the fact there is no sequel for me to go out and buy.

kathleen hannah has once again amazed me with her talents. this album comes highly reccommended not only to fans of her past work in bikini kill, but also to those into lo-fi, rap, hip hop, and other underground/indie genres. 'i wanna know what love is' is my favorite song on this album, but each track has it's own personality. the opening lines of the second verse reminds me of what suburban white girl feminist gangsta rap would be like if there were such a thing. this is powerful music for people who aren't afraid of things that aren't always pretty. this album is a true work of art from an inspiring artist. 'stay monkey' is another standout track. if you're into what's happening in the future of feminism, lo-fi, and electronic music, be sure to check this cd out.

Kathleen proves that she can rock all by herself with a few basic intruments and her ingenious thought provoking lyrics.

I must admit when I first listened to this CD I was a little disappointed, I was expecting Bikini Kill part 2. After a couple of listens I came to realize that this is a multi-faceted artist with a lot to say, and she's able to express herself in different forms. Just check out Le Tigre's debut CD for proof of that!

The song that stands out and never fails to give me the chills is "I Wanna Know What Love Is," it talks about the absence of real police protection and how they are the offenders, no different from the rest of the criminals. She even dares to touch on the Jon Benet Ramsey tragedy...her words cause me to choke back the tears each time I listen to it. A lot of Ms. Hanna's songs have this affect on me!

Kathleen displays her depth as a musician so well on this solo debut, I hope she does another solo project...even though I do love Le Tigre.

Buy this & be blown away!

this cd was one of the best. kathleen hanna is just as good as she was when in bikini kill. the cd has a really nice poetry and techno vibe

The instrumental workings are very impressive and highly pleasing. The lyrics are of course meaningful and amazing, interesting whether you agree with her or not. The CD does not disappoint with a minimal number of songs or a half-assed effort relying on previous Bikini Kill fame. I'd recommend this to any Kathleen Hanna fan, riot grrrl, or open-minded person.

Kathleen Hanna is amazing. How she did it, I don't know. For her first time using most of the equiptment she did for this album, it must have been a work of god. She does most of the intrumental use, produces, and recorded this whole album herself. Its beats keep in your head for days on end. Wonderful lyrics that really make you think and want to be apart of the feminest community. Beautifully done. A must have for any riot grrrl or boy, Kathleen Hanna, Le Tigre or Bikini Kill fan, or anyone looking for some good music. :)

I hadn't ever listened to Bikini Kill before I bought this album, but I had read a lot about them and decided I'd give them a try. Then Julie Ruin came out, and I thought, what the heck, let's give Kathleen's solo effort a try first. I was definitely NOT expecting her baby-girl voice--I had something PJ Harvey-esque in mind--and I was turned way off by the pedantic song-writing (especially on "I Wanna Know What Love Is"). But I gave it a few more listens, and I've decided I really like this disc. "Aerobicide" is my favorite song to listen to on the way to work in the mornings, and I love "V.G.I." ("I wear a scrunchie" could be my favorite line on the whole disc). "Stay Monkey" really showcases Kathleen's vocal talent, which sometimes gets lost on other songs, and I like the quirkiness of "Crochet" and "On Language." What can I say? It grew on me.

Kathleen Hanna's new solo project features Kathleen, an fx box, a casio keyboard, and a drum machine. This is really bedroom punk. Kathleen snarls, chants, spits, and sings over cheeseball riffs that may flash you right back to when your brother got a casio for christmas and played bossa nova rhythms all damn day. It must be a release to her to break from the bikini kill label, but the themes are the same: feminist punk rock rules! My favorite song is "I wanna know what love is" which rips the chorus out of your prom song and sticks it between lyrics like "green river killer my f**ken ass/ the cops have gotta be deaf dumb and spastic/ to not catch the killer(s) of a hundred women/ perhaps it'd be different if they thought we were human". I think someone's gonna have to coin yet another punk subgenre just to describe this. Listen to this twice through and you won't be able to stop.

This is the single greatest record of all time. Musically interesting and innovative, with a down to earth political edge.

what i thought was one of the most interesting aspects of this album was its similarities to "white, male, middle-class rockstars" that Kathleen Hannah has previuosly denounced on Mike Watt's answering machine. Her disgust for artists like Beck transfers itself to this album in a way that definitely makes it more distinct. sure, the lyrics are still about repression and they are still angry, the words are still frustrated and spikey (similar to bikini kill anthems) but the importance of records like this is probably immeasurable in other ways. i don't necessarily agree with Hannah's antics anymore but i can appreciate her vulnerability and the fact that, if nothing else, this record shows that any young girl who feels trapped or repressed in some way can make pertinent music about it instead of shooting up their school. it is important for people to hear this music, a garage-y, four track, home-made mix feel, and realize that their potential for a great record is as strong as their "angst" or disgust.